Power saw



P. LATHERS Sept. 22, 1931.

Filed Sept. 8, .1930 I5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Paul lather: v

By Allorney Sept. 22, 1931.

P. LATHERS POWER SAW 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1950 Invenlor Paul Lalfiers Sept. 22, 1931; Rs I 1,824,555

I POWER SAW Filed Sept. 8, 19:50 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nvenlor Paul Lalh e'rs A l lorne y Patented Sept. 22, 1931 PAUL LATHEBS, OI BELOIT, WISCONSIN POWER SAW Application filed September 8, 1980. Serial No. 480,496.

This invention relates broadly to saws and has more particular reference to a saw adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power. The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved power saw for use in sawing trees, lumber and the llke.

A still further object of the invent on is to provide a saw of the above mentioned in character, adapted to be mounted on a tractor to be driven fromthe prime mover of the tractor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for mounting the'saw on the tractor, whereby the saw may be swung both on a horizontal plane and from a horizontal plane into any desired angle relative to the perpendicular or vertical. A still further object of the invention is to provide improved manually controlled means for operating the saw from the prime mover of the tractor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

'Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved saw, the same being shown operatively associated with a tractor.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the saw structure, per se.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view therethrough. v

Figure 4; is a fragmentary detail sectional view, illustrating certain details of construction to be hereinafter more fully referred Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially at right angles to Figure 4. Figure 7 is a transverse horizontal'sec- With reference more in detail to the drawg ingsfit will be seen that I have designated a conventional type of tractor by the reference character '1. Projecting laterally from one side of the tractor, adjacent the rear end of the tractor, is a clutch housing 1, that has its flanged end 2 suitably bolted to the adjacent side of the tractor. At its outer free end, the housing 1 is provided with an integral vertical plate 3. Projecting laterally from the plate 3, concentric of the housing 1, is a relatively short cylindrical pivot member or projection 4, flanged at its outermost end as at 5.

A casting designated generally by the reference character 6 is adapted to be rotatably 7 supported from said extension or projection 4. g f

The casting 6 comprises an enlarged somewhat conical lower end portion 7, from which rises a cylinder 8. The casting is projected laterally of the cylinder 8 as at 9.

The lower portion 7, together with the projection 9, provides a gear housing '10, normally'closed adjacent the bottom of'the casting, through the medium of a suitable flanged brace 11, bolted to the casting as at 12- c A drive shaft 13 operatively connected with the prime mover of the tractor extends laterally of the tractor into the clutch housin 1. A driven shaft 14 is journaled in an axlal bore 15, that extends through the extension 4 and plate 3. Splined to the innermost end of the shaft 14 is a clutch member 16, and a complemental clutch member 17 is shaft 13.

with a grooved collar 18, that accommodates slidably kelyed to the adjacent end of the he clutch member 17 is provided thelegs of the bifurcated member 19. The

' 23. The shaft 23 extends vertically through the casting 6, and at its upper end extends outwardly through the head 24 of a piston 25, that is vertically slidable within the cylinder 8.

On the upper end of the shaft 23 exter-. iorly of the cylinder 25 is a crank arm 26. The crank arm 26 has a link connection 27, with a block 28, for imparting reciprocatory movement to said block 28 upon rotation of the shaft 23, the latter being driven from the prime mover of the tractor T through the medium of the gearings 21 and 22. The block 28 is slidably supported between the upper parallel horizontally disposed members 29 of a pair of substantially triangular members designated generally by the reference character 30.

The frame members 30 project laterally in spaced parallelism from the casting 6 and are rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the cylinders 25 for vertical movement therewith. The block 28 has an integral depending portion 31 arranged between the frame members 29. A suitable saw 32 has the inner end thereof rigidly secured to the block 28 as at 33, for reciprocatory movement with said block.

Obviously, by raising and lowering the cylinder 25, the saw 32 will be disposed relative to the ground for sawing the tree or the like at a predetermined desired hei ht.

or raising or lowering the cylinder 25, for positioning the saw 32 at a predetermined position relative to the ground, there is rovided a substantially annular strap member 33, that fits within an annular external groove 34, formed on the wall of the cylinder 8, adjacent the upper end of the cylinder. The strap 33 is provided with a radial a rtured lug 35, the bore of which is three ed for engaging the threaded portion of a vertically disposed adjusting screw 36.

The upper end of the screw 36 is rigidly secured to the head 24, as at 37,-while the lower end of the screw has a swivel connection 38 with one end of a flexible shaft 39.

Obviously, upon rotation of the screw 36,

vertical movement will be imparted to the cylinder 25, for positioning the cylinder 25 at a predetermined position relative to the casting 6.

From a study of Figure 5, it will be noted that the plate 3 has an arcuate edge 3', and I that the plate is further provided with an integral horizontal extension 40. The casting 6 further includes an integral guide arm 41 that projects laterally adjacent the upper end of the cylinder 8. The free end portion of the arm 41 is adapted to ride over the -a1'cuate edge 3' of the plate, and said arm 41 at said free end is provided with a lug 42 directed inwardly with respect to the arm for engagement with the inner face of the plate 3, to retain said arm in engagement with said plate.

The'lateral projection 9 of the casting is provided with a lateral opening for accommodating the projection 4 of the plate 3.

Adjacent the opening the wall of the pro- I cess 45, provided therefor in the projection 40 of the plate 3. Threadedly engaged with the screw 44 for longitudinal movement relative thereto is a nut 46, that has pivoted thereto to one end of a longitudinally curved arm 47. The free end of the arm 47 is pivoted to a brace member 48, that extends vertically between the projection 9 and the guide arm 41. Adjacent the free end of the arm 40, the actuating screw 44 is provided with a squared end 49, to facilitate turning of the screw with a suitable tool. Obviously, upon rotation of the screw 44 in one direction, for moving the nut 46 longitudinally thereof in a corresponding direction, the casting 6 will be rocked about its pivot 4, for placing the saw 32 at an desired angle to the perpendicular. Mani estly, then, the standing tree, or other member to be cut may be cut at the desired angle by adjusting the casting 6 at any predetermined or desired rotated position.

Means also is provided for swinging the saw 32 on a horizontal plane toward or away from the tractor.

In this connection, reference being had to Figure 7, it will be seen that the vertical members of the frames 30 pass through suitable apertures provided therefor in the lugs 35 of the member 33. Adjacent the groove that receives the member 33, the cylinder 8 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced apertured ears 50, between which is pivotally mounted, as at 51, an arm 52. The arm 52 has suitably connected therewith as at 53, one end portion of an actuating screw 54. The screw 54 has its threaded ortion threadedly engaged with an inte ra sleeve 55, that is rigidly secured to the ug 35, by any suitable means.

Obviously, upon threading of the screw 54 in one direction through the sleeve 55, the member 33 will be rotated about the cylinder 8 and the lug 35 being operatively connected with the frame members 30, that are in turn supported from the head 24, of cylinder 25, will result in rotating the cylinder 25 within the cylinder 8 thereby swinging the saw 32, in-the desired direction and on a horizontal plane.

The screw 54 is operatively connected with one end of a flexible shaft 56. The free end of the shaft 56 as well as the free end of the shaft 39 are journaled in suitable apertures rovided therefor in a depending lug 57, integral with the arm 40 adjacent the free end of the latter.

Said end of the shaft 56 and 37 are also squared as at 56 and 37' respectively to facilitate turning of the shafts for actuating the screw members associated therewith.

From the foregoing then, it will be seen that I have devised a saw to be carried upon a tractor and driven from the prime mover of the tractor and that the saw is adapted to be dis osed at any desired angle relative to t e horizontal, the saw being so mounted as to be swung upon both a hori-' zontal .and vertical axis and may be also raised or lowered relative to the ground. Furthermore, through the medium of the clutch mechanism described, the saw can be readily thrown into or out of operative engagement with the prime mover of the tractor whereby the saw may be readily and easily driven from the tractor and in' whichever position the saw may be arran ed.

Even though I have herein shown t e preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the'same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tractor including in combination a clutch housing, a longitudinally extensible adjustable member, means for pivotally supporting said member adjacent said clutch housing, said member including a gear chamber, a drive shaft operatively connected with the prime .mover of the tractor and extending into said clutch housing, a driven shaft, clutch means operatively connecting said shafts, said last mentioned shaft having a gear thereon arranged in said gear chamber, a third shaft slidably supported axially of said longitudinally extenslble adto the longitudinal axis of said longitudinally extensible adjustable member, whereby said cutter member may be moved on a plane parallel to the axis of said longitudinally. extensible adjustable member upon adjustment of said member, and means operatively connecting said cutter with said crank arm for transmitting reciprocatory movement to said cutter upon rotation of the -last mentioned shaft.

2. A tractor including in combination a clutch housing, a longitudinally extensible adjustable member, means for pivotally supporting said member adjacent said clutch housing, said member including a gear chamber, a drive shaft operatively connected with the prime mover of the tractor and extending into said clutch housing, a driven shaft, clutch means operatively connecting said shafts, said last mentioned shaft having a gear thereon arran ed-in said gear chamber, a third shaft slidably supported axially of said lonigitudinally extensible adjustable member or movement relative to the first mentioned shafts upon adjustment of said longitudinally extensible adjustable member, a second ear arrangedin said gear chamber and slida ly engaged with the last referred to shaft, said second gear adapted to mesh with the first mentioned gear, for

transmitting rotary motion to said last mentioned shaft, a cutter member, means for supporting saidcutter member adjacent said longitudinally extensible adjustable member, whereby said cutter member may be moved on a plane parallel to the axis of said longitudinally extensible adjustable member upon adjustment of said member, and means operatively connecting said cutter with the last mentioned shaft for transmitting reciprocatory movement to said cutter upon rotation of the last mentioned shaft, and means for swinging said cutter ona plane at right angles to the axis of said longitudinally extensible adjustable member.

3. A ,power saw for self-propelled vehicles comprising in combination a clutch housin a gear housing mounted on the clutch iousing for rotative movement relative thereto, means for securing said gear housing at the desired adjustment, a supporting member mounted on said gear housing, a member slidable on said supporting member and adapted to carr a saw blade, a. shaft journalled in the c utch housing, clutch means in said housing for operatively connecting said shaft with the drive shaft of the prime mover of the vehicle, a shaft journalled in said gear housing, gearing operatively connecting the first shaft with the last mentioned shaft, and means operatively connecting the last mentioned shaft with the saw blade carrying member for imparting reciprocatory movement thereto. o y

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature.

PAUL LATHERS. 

